The Minnesota T’Wolves Make A Trade to Move UP In The Draft

I think I am getting a little teary-eyed about this draft and not because Randy Foye and Mike Miller are no longer Timberwolves.

The T’Wolves have sent Foye and Miller to the Washington Wizards for the No. 5 pick in this years draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila – I left the hyperlink for Oleksiy, because I have no clue who he is or where he came from. You can check out the full ESPN.com story here.

The trades shows a few positives about the David Kahn regime as GM.

First, we moved up in a draft for the first time I can remember in team history.

He is already more proactive than Keven McHale was, ever.

This is not the last trade.

The Wolves have picks 5, 6, 18 and 28 and the rumors out there are that the Wolves will package either 5 or 6 with the 18 and/or 28 to get to No. 2 and pick Ricky Rubio. SWEET JESUS.

That means he very well could have a back court of Rubio with Steph Curry, James Harden or Tyreke Evans (who I am actually not as high on as I was three days ago).

I hope this does not mean they will take Hasheem Thabeet (who’s name I am able to spell with out looking), but I do not want him at either 2, 5, or 6. He is too one dimensional and while I had been up on him after watching for a year, I just don’t think he is a top 10 pick. He has absolutely no offensive game and is an average rebounder at any height, let alone 7’3″. DeJuan Blair at 6’7″ average 12.3 rebounds a game to Thabeets 10.8.

Switching topics, here are some other thoughts on some players we may know a little about.

Tyler Hanbrough, UNC – I watched a little bit of the combine and was impressed with the way he looked compared to other bigs in the draft. He has a great motor and is not afraid of contact, and finishes well after the contact. I think he will go mid-to-late first round, probably to a playoff contender or the Bobcats.

Sam Young, PITT- Young is an athletic, slasher who is mature enough to handle the transition to the NBA. At 24, he is the oldest draftee, but that is why he will be a steal for a late first round pick for a team in the Playoffs.

Terrace Williams, Louisville – Many people are thinking he will be a monster in the NBA. I have heard the Ron Artest comparison, and I am not sure I see that. I see it on the defensive side, but Williams lacks consistent offense.

Jrue Holiday, UCLA – I do not understand the hype surrounding this guy. Look at his stats and tell me what about him looks like a top ten pick. Is it that we did not get to see him much at UCLA or is this draft just that weak? I understand he plays hard on the defensive end, but there is nothing that makes me want to pick him in the lottery.

Gerald Henderson, Duke – If he is available in the 12-18 range, PICK HIM! I hope he falls to the Wolves at 18 (if they keep that pick). I have heard him going to New York or Charlotte.

Brandon Jennings, Italy – I have not seen much of him after the high school all-star games, but I do not like what I have heard. The word is that he reminds people of Iverson, and I am not a fan of Iverson. Jennings is quick, picks the flashy over fundamental, and looks to prompt himself. Sounds like Sebsastian Telfair all over again. But he could do very well playing for Golden State.

Austin Daye, Gonzaga – I wish he would have stayed in school, seriously! He is crazy talented, but needs time to develop and muscle.

Chase Budinger, Arizona- Big fan of Mr. Budinger. He will make a team better the moment he steps on the floor and still has room to grow. He is a good shooter, and can get of the floor. But needs to find a steady mid-range jumper.

Derrick Brown, Xavier – 6’9″, 237 lbs, and is a great athlete. He is my favorite player not being talked about. He could go anywhere from the 20’s – 30’s, but he is a player that I would pick in the second round in a heart beat – he has top ten talent.

Patrick Mills, St. Marys – No one has fallen faster, but he will make a solid back-up who has unique experience with his national team. He is smaller for the point in the NBA, but he is steady, very steady.

Danny Green, UNC - He will never be more than a role player, but role players win championships. Also, there are a lot of picks in this draft who will never be “more than a role player”. The term is over used and misunderstood. He players hard on both ends of the court and is a better than average shooter. He lacks great speed and athleticism which mean he might struggle to guard which was his specialty in college.

Let me clear something up. The term “role-player” has been used to limit what players do. Say they are one-dimensional, but a team of role payers, filling the right roles, wins. The Spurs are a team full of role players. Even Tim Duncan has a role, it is just more expansive than Bruce Bowen’s.

I could go on for a while that topic, but I won’t. But speaking of the Spurs – solid transition – I love the Richard Jefferson trade. For a team that does not play in the world of major trades, it is a move that make them better.

Here is a summary from Chad Ford’s article one ESPN.com: “Milwaukee Bucks traded Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas on Tuesday. The Spurs also sent Fabricio Oberto to the Detroit Pistons for Amir Johnson who then went to the Bucks.”

I also heard/read that both Bowen and Oberto may be released from their contracts and then sign back with the Spurs. That is an interesting and freakin’ smart play by Spurs.